The Federal Communications Commission will vote Feb. 26 on reclassifying the Internet as a public utility, a move that would introduce an unprecedented layer of government regulation to the broadband Internet industry that has the full backing of the Obama administration.
“I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC,” FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler announced in an op-ed published in Wired Magazine.
Wheeler’s move was expected and comes at the urging of President Obama, who said government regulation is necessary to ensure “a free and open Internet.”
If the five-member commission endorses Wheeler’s recommendation it would give the FCC the same regulatory power it wields over the big phone companies and other utilities.
Wheeler, in his op-ed, said giving the FCC additional authority over broadband Internet will allow the commission to ensure net neutrality by imposing strict rules against “throttling” or purposely slowing down service, as well as the practice of blocking certain websites while giving preference to others. It would also give the FCC the authority to end paid prioritization, a practice that allows some content providers to pay extra to avoid network congestion by “jumping in line.”
“My proposal assures the rights of internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission,” Wheeler wrote in the op ed.
But Republicans in Congress are staunchly opposed to expanding the government’s role over the Internet, arguing that it will stagnate growth in the industry.
House and Senate GOP lawmakers have proposed joint legislation that would ban throttling, blocking and paid prioritization. But it would also prohibit the FCC from regulating the Internet like a public utility.
The GOP measure would maintain broadband Internet’s current classification as an information service under the Communications Act. This classification excludes Internet service providers from the non-discrimination laws that public utilities must follow.
The major Internet service providers have threatened to sue if the FCC moves to regulate them as a utility — another reason, Republicans say, to allow Congress to pass a law instead.
“Americans don’t need bulky regulations to be applied to the diverse and competitive Internet marketplace,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said after the announcement. “Wheeler’s approach would squelch investment in one of the most dynamic and competitive marketplaces in history and lock net neutrality protection in the courts without reaching Americans now or anytime in the near future.”
A Jan. 21 automated poll conducted by Vox Populi Polling, a firm based in Alexandria, Va., found that 8 in 10 people back the broad idea of net neutrality and 65 percent said they believe the big internet companies need oversight to ensure they deliver services fairly.
